Jersey’s Royal British Legion is officially launching its 2021 Poppy Appeal at the annual Field of Remembrance ceremony, which takes place on Friday 29th October at 1pm at the Cenotaph, the Parade.
Wooden crosses to commemorate all those who served their country will be planted at the Cenotaph by members of the Royal British Legion and Island dignitaries, as well as members of the public. Crosses will be available at the ceremony for a small donation.
Following the ceremony, the President of the Jersey Branch of the Legion, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Woodrow, and the Chairman of the Jersey Branch, Lieutenant Colonel Tim Daniels, will meet the volunteers at the pop-up Poppy Shop at 77 King Street, opposite WH Smith.
This year the Jersey Branch of the Royal British Legion are delighted to welcome the Chelsea Pensioners back to Island who will be manning the table outside Marks & Spencer on King Street.
On Monday 1st November, there will be a presentation of the five Centenary Coins at the pop-up shop. Following the presentation, the Poppy Appeal will be running a Centenary Coin Prize Draw of five prizes, each being a newly released 2021 Centenary Remembrance Poppy Proof £5 coin. The coins are minted in sterling silver and commemorate the Centenary of the Royal British Legion. Every donation of £10 gives one ticket (one chance) to win a Centenary Remembrance Coin. All donations will go to the Poppy Appeal in Jersey, as the prizes have been generously donated by the Jersey Treasury.
In addition to prize draw tickets, a range of Poppy Appeal merchandise will be available to buy at the pop-up shop, including locally made scented candles and flower-pot decorating kits. The familiar metal badges will be available, as well as at the Parish Halls. This year the badges highlight the service given to the Island by the Field Squadron – our local Militia – who have kept us safe for almost 700 years.
Islanders are being encouraged donate by scanning the QR codes on the Poppy Appeal tins, making payments a lot easier, and online.
Alison Opfermann, Poppy Appeal organiser, said how the pandemic has affected this year’s appeal: “The Royal British Legion has been supporting the armed forces for 100 years now, and though in Jersey we are looking forward to celebrating our centenary in 2022, right now it is wonderful to once again have a Poppy Appeal where our volunteers are out and about in the Island. There are many ex-service people in our community who need your support, so please buy a poppy, visit the poppy shop, or come and talk to Chelsea Pensioner. It’s a simple way to show our gratitude for the service and sacrifice of our military.”
For more details and updates, go to the Facebook page.
The images show the poppy Appeal Organiser Alison Opfermann with Lady Dalton, preparing Poppy pin cards alongside volunteers at the home of Richard and Jennie Le Sueur in mid October 2021.
